Tech IQ: A review of common tech terms health professionals should know

KEEPING UP WITH THE TIMES Recently, I was at a meeting of local healthcare professionals and we were discussing the ever- growing use of technology in both personal and professional life. After ten minutes of intense tech- Consumers are increasingly using cloud services to talk, a (brave) hospital executive admitted he did not store photos and info, backup their computer data, know what a hashtag was and asked me to explain. and other data they want access to anytime, Then, someone else asked for an explanation on anywhere. cloud computing, QR Codes, and Google Glass. CMS – Content Management System. CMSs are While our recent posts have discussed technology as generally used to run websites. It is a computer it relates to career options and healthcare resources, program or suite of applications and tools that it has become obvious that providing a short allows publishing, editing, and modifying electronic dictionary of current tech terms may help you keep content from a central interface. Common CMSs up with the times. include WordPress, Joomla!, Apache Roller, and OpenCms. 10 TECH TERMS YOU SHOULD KNOW DNS – Domain Name System. Think of the DNS as a API – Application Programming Interface. phone book for the Internet where web address An API is a library that includes specifications for names we use, such as www.TriageLogic.com, are routines, protocols, data structures, object classes, translated into a numerical IP address etc. in the building of software applications. It (209.160.54.45) in order for web technology to specifies how some software components easily locate the site on the Internet or network. interact with other software programs. Google Glass – (aka Project Glass). This wearable APP – An abbreviation for “Application.” Apps are computer displays information by providing a heads- typically small, specialized software programs that up display (HUD) located just above the right eye. are downloaded onto mobile devices such as phones Put them on and a glance upwards can provide you and tablets. However, they can also be used on a with information just like your smart phone, but computer. There are apps for everything from hands-free. Take a photo, record video, get games and sports, to business, health, news, and directions, and even search the Internet. reference information. Hashtag - #. A hashtag is a short phrase or word Cloud Computing – A general term for anything that used to group messages in social networking sites involves delivering hosted services over the Internet such as Twitter, Tout, Tumblr, Instagram, Flickr, such as shopping, services, and information storage. Google+, and Facebook. By putting a “#” before the

TRIAGELOGIC GROUP WEB JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA http://www.TriageLogic.com word or phrase, other people can search for the reader allows you to save time and increase hashtag on the networking site and read the productivity as it displays content from various messages that have been posted about that sources without you having to go to each website topic, or start one themselves for others to individually. follow/repeat. SEO – Search Engine QR Code – Quick Response Optimization. Companies and Code. A special type of organizations of all types barcode that can be read by a should be interested in search smartphone via a QR Code engine optimization as it is the Reader app. When scanned, a process of improving the QR code can provide visibility of their website when information set by the someone does a search for it developer. Common uses on the Internet. For instance, if include coupons, product someone does an Internet information, and links to search for “Best peanut websites. They are now butter” they are most likely to showing up on patient charts look at the websites that show to hide sensitive info, and are up on the first page of results. even used as temporary So, peanut butter companies tattoos in place of medical ID should be using SEO bracelets. techniques to get their website to show up at or near RSS – Rich Site Summary. RSS the top of the list. “feeds” are used to publish blogs, news, audio, and video in a standardized format. Using an RSS reader on your computer or mobile TL CONNECT… device, you can subscribe to feeds from various What tech terms have your come across that you sources based on your interests. Using an RSS don’t understand? Share your thoughts and we will provide you with answers!